Hiking & park tips for Snow Canyon

Self-serve orientation for Snow Canyon State Park, a 7,400-acre Utah state park near St. George (in the Ivins area), inside the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. We do not run hikes or sell park passes.

Hours, fees, and closures change. Confirm on the official Snow Canyon page and current conditions before you go.

Hours & day-use fees

Utah State Parks lists the park as open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Day-use fees published on the park fees page (check that page — they can change):

  • Utah resident vehicle (up to 8 people): $15
  • Utah resident seniors 65+ (vehicle, up to 8, with a Utah driver’s license): $10
  • Non-resident vehicle (up to 8 people): $20
  • Pedestrian or cyclist: $3 per person
  • Commercial use or groups of 9+: $4 per person

Phone listed by the park: 435-628-2255. The visitor center and bookstore are in the campground, about two miles in from either entrance on Snow Canyon Drive.

Popular trails (overview)

Distances below are round trip, from the park’s trail brochure. Full descriptions and maps: Utah State Parks hiking page.

Lava Flow

About 2.6 miles, moderate, uneven surfaces. Crosses a jumbled lava field — the remains of an old volcanic eruption.

Petrified Dunes

About 1.2 miles, moderate, with some steep slopes and uneven rock. Crosses Navajo sandstone that looks like dunes frozen in place.

Jenny’s Canyon

About 0.5 mile, easy, mostly level with a few slopes and steps. A short walk to a small sculpted slot — often recommended for kids.

Pioneer Names

About 0.5 mile, easy, fairly level with some steps. A crescent path past pioneer names written in axle grease, dating to 1881.

Whiterocks (White Rocks)

About 4 miles, moderate, with rocky slopes and uneven surfaces. Leads toward a natural sandstone amphitheater through red, white, and black rock. The park also notes a shorter, about one-mile route to the amphitheater from the Whiterocks Road parking area.

More than these five

The park publishes more than 38 miles of hiking trails, plus a paved walking and biking path (Whiptail) and equestrian routes. Johnson Canyon is closed March 15 through September 14 except for ranger-guided hikes.

Heat, water, and leave no trace

The name is misleading: this is a desert park. The park warns that summer daytime temperatures can run from the low 100s to 117°F, and that most trails have no shade.

  • In hot weather, avoid hiking, biking, and similar effort between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. If you arrive late, the park suggests a driving tour and a picnic instead of a long hike.
  • Plan on at least 32 ounces (about 1 liter) of water per person per hour. Carry your own and drink before you feel thirsty.
  • Hat, sunscreen, and light long sleeves. Cell coverage is limited — don’t hike alone, and tell someone your plan.
  • Stay on designated trails. Off-trail steps damage plants and cryptobiotic soil that holds the sand in place.
  • Dogs are allowed on park trails only when leashed (6-foot max), under control, and on mapped trails. Scoop waste. Recheck current conditions for any trail-specific limits.
  • Watch for desert tortoises (do not harass or collect them) and give snakes space. The park notes Great Basin rattlesnakes and Mojave sidewinders among its snake species; encounters are uncommon.

Packing detail lives on the desert packing list. Sample half-day and full-day shapes are on Plan your trip.

Optional guided hikes

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Guided hike near Snow Canyon

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